KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 18

As communities across Nepal continue to feel the aftershocks of recent nationwide protests, the Dhairya Cancer Foundation organized a special art-based stress-management session on Wednesday for government-school students aged 14–16. The initiative aimed to help young people process emotions and strengthen mental resilience during a period of social tension.

The session began with simple doodling exercises to help students focus and relax, gradually progressing to freehand art. Several participants drew scenes of Singha Durbar with raised flags, reflecting their thoughts on the ongoing unrest. Many said the activities provided an unexpected sense of calm, with some noting it was their first time exploring their own strengths and weaknesses through art.

Teachers welcomed the program's timing, highlighting the heavy emotional burden students face. With the month-long festival vacation approaching, facilitators encouraged the teenagers to continue practicing the relaxation and reflection techniques at home to maintain mental well-being.

Terisa Tamang, president of the Dhairya Cancer Foundation, underscored the importance of such efforts, noting that mental health is as critical as physical health, especially for adolescents whose emotional resilience is still developing.

Building on its experience providing psychosocial support to cancer patients and caregivers, the foundation plans to expand similar art-therapy programs to more schools in the coming months in partnership with Kathmandu Metropolitan City. The initiative reflects the organization's broader mission to make mental-health support practical and accessible across Nepal.